RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Icahn Automotive Group LLC, an Icahn Enterprises L.P. company, has made its mark on the aftermarket through the pursuit of an aggressive acquisition strategy, the introduction of a mobile service format, new installation partnerships with leading online retailers and investments to bring more professionals to the skilled trades – all to meet the increased demand for service from both the individual and fleet customer.

Brian Kaner, president of service for Icahn Automotive, is leading one of the largest service networks in North America, which includes more than 10,000 service bays across 2,000 company-owned and franchised Pep Boys, AAMCO and Precision Tune locations. Brian will share key insights on how Icahn Automotive is responding to changing industry dynamics at the upcoming 2019 Vision Conference hosted by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) on Wednesday, April 3, at The Henry, Dearborn, Mich.

“Icahn Automotive has emerged as a potent competitor in the service and parts sector, poised to evolve the current business models,” said Bill Long, MEMA president and chief executive officer and AASA president and chief operating officer. “At our conference, Brian will share the company’s perspective about the future of our industry and the opportunities they see that exist as they drive their strategy.”

Kaner, who has a two-decade track record of driving growth and leading teams through business transformations, has been instrumental in Icahn Automotive’s acquisitions of more than 1,000 service locations, as well as the launch of Pep Boys Mobile Crew, a state-of-the-art mobile repair unit that provides customers convenient, on-location maintenance.

“Icahn Automotive has enhanced our service model by investing in new business initiatives, and in people, programs, training and technology to meet the expectations of our customers,” said Kaner. “We’re now better positioned than any other company in the aftermarket to capitalize on the growing demand for automotive service and to offer technicians a broad range of career opportunities.”

“New business models are evolving almost everywhere you look,” said Paul McCarthy, AASA executive vice president. “Innovation and change are the key drivers for increased profits, and we will begin to see an acceleration of creative approaches to value creation going forward. Icahn Automotive’s unique approach will be of great interest to the Vision audience.”

The AASA Vision Conference is regarded as the aftermarket’s premier thought-leadership event and is dedicated to advancing the business interests of the aftermarket industry and the association’s members.

The 2019 event opens on Tuesday, April 2, with an industry networking reception at The Henry Ford Museum. The Conference convenes the morning of April 3 with industrywide sessions examining critical aftermarket business issues, such as:

The Road to Achieving Freedom of Choice for the Aftermarket

The Great Tariff Debate

How the Aftermarket Will Unfold in 2019-2020

Repairing High-Tech Vehicles

The Conference will close with an AASA member-only segment, which will feature Mark Finestone, executive vice president of merchandising for AutoZone, as the “Customer Spotlight” speaker, and also includes a presentation by Adam Goetsch director of automotive for Amazon.

More information about the AASA Vision Conference agenda, registration and hotel reservations is available at aasavision.org.

AASA (www.aftermarketsuppliers.org) exclusively serves manufacturers of aftermarket components, tools and equipment, and related products, an important part of the automotive parts manufacturing industry which supports 871,000 American jobs. AASA is a recognized industry change agent – promoting a collaborative industry environment, providing a forum to address issues and serving as a valued resource for members. AASA is the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). “AASA, The Voice for the Automotive Aftermarket Supplier Industry”